In the construction sector, seasonally adjusted production fell by 2.0% in the euro area (EA16) and by 2.7% in the EU27 in May 2009, compared with the previous month. In April, production rose by 0.4% and 0.6% respectively.

Compared with May 2008, output in May 2009 dropped by 8.0% in the euro area and by 9.6% in the EU27. These first estimates are released by Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities.

Monthly comparison

Among the Member States for which data was available for May 2009, construction output fell in ten and rose only in Slovakia (+5.4%) and Sweden (+1.1%). The largest decreases were recorded in Spain (-4.3%), the Czech Republic (-4.1%) and Bulgaria (-3.8%).

Building construction declined by 2.1% in the euro area and by 2.7% in the EU27, after +0.4% and +2.4% respectively in April. Civil engineering fell by 0.4% in the euro area and by 1.6% in the EU27, after -2.2% and -0.8% respectively in the previous month.

Annual comparison

Among the Member States for which data was available for May 2009, construction output fell in nine and rose only in Sweden (+10.9%), Germany (+1.2%) and Poland (+0.1%). The largest decreases were registered in Romania (-23.7%), Slovenia (-21.1%) and the United Kingdom (-17.9%).

Building construction dropped by 10.3% in the euro area and by 11.5% in the EU27, after -7.0% and -7.4% in April. Civil engineering increased by 0.9% in the euro area, but fell by 1.7% in the EU27, after +2.2% and +3.1% respectively in the previous month.

Note: No data was available for Malta.

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